Pineapple Poll . . .

In the Wings  |  12 x 9

Pineapple Poll is a delightful arrangement of music from all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. The ballet tells the story of the same "bumboat woman" who appears later in life as "Little Buttercup" in Pinafore. 

 In 2004 the Seattle G&S society commissioned Spectrum Dance Theater, directed by Donald Byrd, to perform the ballet on a double bill with the society's production of HMS Pinafore in celebration of the society's 50 anniversary season. I was given permission to shoot reference photos backstage during one of the performances. Watching the long shadows the ballet lighting cast, was as exciting as watching the dancers themselves.

If you enjoy G&S and love dance, DVDs of this production are available through the Seattle G&S Society. Click here for more info. The image below is from the DVD.

 

Pineapple Poll 

Spectrum Dance Theater, Scenic Designer, Nathan Rodda

Mr. G. Waxing Eloquent

Mr. G. Waxing Eloquent  |  10.75 x 8

Gordon Gilbert Gutteridge as Mr. Bunthorne’s Solicitor, the only non-speaking, non-singing roll in Gilbert & Sullivan. Gordon was listed in the program as “Gilbert Grossmith Gordon” - his joke. George Grossmith was the original principal comedian with the D’Oily Carte Company from 1877 to 1889.

The painting is based on a reference photo shot during the society’s 1993 production of “Patience”.  "Mr. G." was Artistic Director of the Company for 35 years. He was also an accomplished artist, actor, designer, leader and an inspiration to generations of performers.

A moment from Act II . . .

Pooh-Bah Has a Word or Two  |  36 x 18

The actor on the left in this scene from The Mikado is the Seattle G&S Society's longtime scenic designer, Nathan Rodda. He truly makes manic happen. 

 

The painting is in the MUSICAL PIECES exhibition through July 1sr 2016.

Gallery hours: Monday - Friday 11am - 4pm

Women Painters of Washington Gallery 

Columbia Center Building
701 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor Atrium
Seattle, WA 98104

The Amazing William as Pooh-Bah . . .

The Amazing Pooh-Bah  |  24 x 12

Another painting in Musical Pieces, William J. Darkow as Pooh-Bah in Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s 2001 production of “The Mikado”. Everything this actor did was paintable. His presence was simply wonderful! The sets were designed by the society's longtime scenic designer, Nathan Rodda. 

MUSICAL PIECES is having an opening APRIL 7, FIRST THURSDAY. 
There will be a PROGRAM AND LIVE JAZZ starting at 4 pm.

Women Painters of Washington Gallery

Columbia Center Building
701 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor Atrium
Seattle, WA 98104 

Musical Pieces

—  an exhibition inspired by music  —

 Yeo Man  |  24 x 12

I have chosen moments from the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s productions at the Bagley Wright Theater in Seattle for my Musical Pieces. They include paintings from: The Mikado, Patience, Pineapple Poll and The Yeomen of the Guard, the latter being a moment from the first rehearsal in theater with props but no costumes. I just couldn’t resist the look of a yeoman in red tennis shoes.

 I will be posting images of the other four paintings later this week.

Musical Pieces exhibition dates:
April 5th - July 1st
Reception April 7th from 4pm - 6pm

Women Painters of Washington Gallery

Columbia Center Building
701 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor Atrium
Seattle, WA 98104 

The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society will be presenting The Yeomen of the Guard in July. Click here to see their website for more information.

The Creative Muse

Muse Under Blossoms of Gold

 

Muse Under Blossoms of Gold has been juried into The Creative Muse, an exhibition sponsored by the National Association of Women Artists, NYC. I am honored to have one of my paintings be among the 45 works chosen for this exhibition.

The Creative Muse  |  A Juried Open Exhibition at
the Crayola Gallery at the Banana Factory
25 West 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA

March 12—May 8, 2016

Two Friday Receptions from 6-9pm:  April 1st  & May 6th  2016

Ken Auster

 

Garden Room  by Ken Auster 

I no longer remember when I first saw Ken Auster's work in art magazines, but it was love at first sight. His work was so exciting—wonderful compositions, fabulous use of color, rich warm and cool tones and so many subtle grays!  Thick, juicy paint and loose brush strokes. No matter the subject, his work filled my heart with joy.

I met Ken 11 years ago as a student in one of his workshops in Tuscon. By then I already owned two of his paintings and was eager to meet this man in person. An easel was at the front of the class room. Beside it was large table, the entire top was covered with heavy brown paper. 

He came into the classroom the first day carrying a duffel bag. Many colors of paint had splattered over it. When unzipped, the sides fell to the table revealing the continence: dozens of paint tubes, some without their lids, and a small brown paper bag. The paper bag contained a handful of loose 35mm slides, which were duped onto the table. My thought, this is going to be an interesting week!
And it truly was.

 

Ken's classroom demo palette

He chose a slide for reference, held it towards the light, and started painting.

Watching his demos was like seeing magic happen before my eyes. He would begin with a large brush and loose strokes of thin dark paint. Gradually large areas of color would be added.

To add the people on the sidewalk in this demo, a scribbled mass of dark was added. Then colors to form the people's clothing, heads, and whatever they were carrying. The background colors were then added where needed to finish forming the people and the spaces between them—the sidewalk colors.

Ken Auster's finished demo. 

 This is the demo I purchased. The actual painting is not quite so pink as the last image. 

Ken passed away Friday, January 29, 2016. He was a gifted instructor and mentor, a wonderful painter, and a kind and generous man with a great sense of humor. He will be missed. There will be an article about him in the March, 2016 issue of PleinAir magazine. See also: Celebrating A Long, Fulfilling Career.

 

Port Tack by Ken Auster

 

Lajolla by Ken Auster

Wishing you blessings and joy!

Wishing you blessings and joy this Sacred Season.

May the New Year bring peace and 

contentment to you and yours.

::  ::  ::

My Fine Art website

I have updated my Fine Art website. 

Clicking on the image below will take you to the home page.

          If you would like to receive my Fine Art newsletters, click here to subscribe. 

Blueberry Dress

oil on panel  |  12 x 9

Another painting I have been thinking about for a long time. She loved being in this dress and the thought still makes her smile. The painting is a birthday gift that will be delivered when framed. Her birthday is the same week as one of her sisters, the model in Ready to Go posted on October 13th.

The models, Sophia in Ready to Go and Annalisa in Blueberry Dress, with Gala, their mom—who is also one of my daughters. Very good company!

46th National River Road Show — Baton Rouge

The Mid-Day Meal. posted on September 30th, is one of 75 paintings accepted into the 46th National River Road Show. The exhibition opens Friday, December 4th and runs through Tuesday, December 29th. 

Louisiana State Archives Building, 

home of the annual River Road Show

Ready to Go

oil on panel  |  12 x 9

Something I have been wanting to paint for a long time, quite long . . . she is now in college! The painting is a gift for her 21st birthday. It will be delivered when dry and framed. 

She saw the painting when she came to visit last week with her sisters. Huge smiles! All three of them like it.

They came with a combination of homework and sketchbooks. We spent the afternoon around the family room table.  

After a while I brought out some of my favorite art books to share. Great way to spend the afternoon.

The Mid-Day Meal

The Mid-Day Meal

oil on panel  |  12 x 9

Once a month I met with a few of my colleagues. We critique our recent paintings and have lunch together. Interesting conversation and much laughter seems to always be part of our time together. On this day, I loved the colors and shapes on the table, the trees outside and the body langue of two of my friends. Seemed like a painting to me.

Fast Break

oil on panel  |  8 x 10  

My intention was to paint players in motion. I was pleased with this attempt and framed it. The painting is now in the collection of the player in green—a gift on her 16th birthday. 

Katisha

 Katisha

oil on panel  |  14 x 14

Christine Goff as Katisha in the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's Mikado, is one of the paintings showcased in the National Association of Women Artists 126th Annual Exhibition in New York City.